51 thoughts on “Letter to the Editor: The Life of A Postal Support Employee (PSE)”

1. you will be the first one screaming that a’nt my job when you make regular. seen and heard this story before. you will turn into a freakin uncontrollable
   werewolf once you turn regular.

2. Most PSE’s at my plant are just a “match set” of the regulars, unconcerned, lazy, gripers and system workers.

3. Waaa Waaa Waaa

4. Come on pepole lets not get on this pse to bad. this person is most likely young. needed a job and is just learning about how it realy works. What him/her needs to relize is if this wouldn’t have been voted on by those lazy regs. they wouldn’t have jobs to begin with. for everyone else that are trashing them stop it. don’t you realize you are doing what most of the top 1% want you to do.Complaning about each other while they get what they want. fight, join your local and vote Dem. in Nov.

5. oh come now……hillary has to get by on 12 million. its not all about you. you can always vote with your feet and work some place else. cardiovascular surgeons make 3-5 million a year……..should have gone to medical school instead of pumping out all those kids you can’t afford. all those illegal invaders coming in from the southern border are going to drive down the low pay jobs into the dirt.(there not children coming in sheeple) add true inflation of 6-9% with food and energy added and you are screwed…….1% raise for next 30 years if you are lucky. friskies or 9 lives….take your pick. welcome to the us postal circus.

6. Oh POOR BABY you’re breaking my heart. Poor little PSE has to WORK for the first time in his life. Oh where do I put all the tissues generated by my crying? You’re probably the son or daughter of a career brownnose employee who were given the answers to the assessment test so you could pass. Oh I feel so BAD for you. Tell you what—-> give up your job, go to Walmart and getpaid what you’re really worth–MINIMUM WAGE.

7. Casuals were basically forced to accept all terms and conditions of the PSE position. It was either having a job or no job. The 2 hr work guarantee is not a guarantee because if you are scheduled, management unschedules you because they have control over work hrs, or they make sure they wait for you at the clock to make sure you don’t clock in. And they won’t pay you unless you work , you don’t have a choice over working 2 hrs or just receiving 2 hr pay. They play dirty and there’s nothing we can do because they are “government ” management. They have the power to fire us if they feel like it, they make sure they write your ass up or transfer you. Regulars harass pses and have even written on walls at work that PSE stands for piece of shit employee. And management did nothing about it!

8. Just because some pses that turned regular put up with 7+ yrs doesn’t mean that others should. I’m going on 5 yrs and my facility has a request for 7 new hires for regulars but management keeps turning down the request due to lack of mail. But why are we staying over time or why are we working more than 36 hrs? They say there at capacity with regulars but why are we being used so much? Pses are being used to there benefit. But pses don’t make much at all. We mostly make our money during the holidays but soon after that they reduce our hrs and at the end of the year our annual income is not much. I make too much for any type of public assistance but not enough for bills. Pses are In between. Management doesn’t care, as long as they get there pay. Pses basically run the postal service and make regulars money but don’t have rights to career status. The union says the have our backs as long as we pay our dues, but yet they say they can’t do much for us.

9. We are exposing this policy in Gone Postal:The Documentary. We must shine a light to force change. Support us so we can support you. http://www.gonepostalfilm.com/trailer

10. Seriously, you’re a PSE and you’re complaining about being asked to do the job you were hired to do? You accepted a job to run machines and move the mail. That’s what you’re doing….regardless of what any other person on the planet is doing. Pay attention to your own business and don’t think about what others are doing. Come to work, earn the paycheck you’re gladly accepting and quitcher bitchin’. If you’re that unhappy and underpaid then resign and go find something better…if you think you can. You’re going to make another really spectacular career employee when you get converted.

11. I hate to tell you the bad news but even if you ever go regular, you will NEVER make the same thing that I do. You are in a separate tier of wages by design. Life is tough for postal workers. Unless you learn to kiss a, or as a woman lie on your back you are just not going anywhere. You should work as hard as you can for your own pride and self respect. I do not have that anymore so I don’t. Oh yeah, if you are white then are screwed again.

12. All that I can say is that if you had asked me I could have told you it would be this way. It is never going to change so that means it will never get any better. Keep looking for a better job and hope for the best. 25 years here and I know of which I speak. BUT, you asked for the job. Oh yeah, and was a PTF for about four years and worked six days most of the time and overtime on top of that and did not want it. Part of the time I was in an associate office where I was at the whim of the supervisors. Some times, a lot of times I would come in at 0600, work three or four hours and drive 30 miles back home. Then, come back to close the office for two hours more. BUT, I asked for the job.

13. PSEs lets keep it real. you have not worked in the plant I’m in orange county southern California. It’s not only ran like a sweat shop you can see the fear on the employees face when you pass them. PSEs and regulars it not fair for some of you because you was not told the real story of what you were getting into. You are solely their for the P.O. that don’t care about you, your family or dog so stay real with yourself and let god and not management or anyone else in the P.O. find your happiness.

14. PSE’s are temporary employees. They don’t need to worry about what anyone else is doing because it is none of their business. No one anywhere, postal or otherwise, wants to hear complaints and crying from their temp employees. Keep your nose to the grindstone and shut up or move along. There are plenty more where you came from and you are easily replaced. You are like sheets of toilet tissue. Disposable.

15. well said Dave

16. I was a ptf for sixteen years, and went through much worse than you, for much longer.

    Also with a family.

    Suck it up whiner.

    Everyone of the new pse and cca I’ve been around expect to, immediately, have the same rights, benefits, perks, etc. as those of us who’ve more than paid our dues.

17. Hmmm… You people don’t have a clue on what you’re talking about… The Clerks, Mailhandlers and Letter Carriers unions wanted to keep the PTF ranks. But Donahue and the Republican Clan wanted all casuals and slave wages. The APWU allowed the Arbritrator to decide once both union and management couldn’t resolve the contract negotiations.. Like the rest of the country. Republicans are waging war against the unions and middle class jobs!!! Thank GOD for our unions.. Then you people would be really crying how bad your pathetic life really is.. Issa and Donuthole want the Post Office privatized so freakin bad!!! Hopefully you clowns educate yourselves and vote for Democrats in November!!!!

18. Sorry, I meant liteblue.gov…

19. Obviously, not a true story she tells. “Two years” yet has no healthcare? PSE is eligible after one year. And she admits to government aid. She cannot have it both ways! Seems she wants what I and others have worked for decades to achieve.
    She needs to join the union, sign up for healthcare via liteblue.org (obviously, she missed this last open season…), and STOP WHINING or just quit!

20. I’m a pse in Sacramento for about two and a half years…. The reality of becoming a career employee don’t seem real…. On the other hand yes in the contract they say pse can work up to 29 per hours a week…. At my station we have bids open and I’ve been working 40 plus hours a week for about a year I am scheme trained, window trained, I do business reply mail (Brm) I do my job faster then other employees but that’s because I am young most people I work with have been there for years so yes they have slowed down not lazy although we do have one that is all about over time and it does suck when they send me home because they are usin to many hours and then have one career employee on overtime and she doesn’t do anything but I am in no place to complain at least I have a job with the po what trying to say is that it does suck that we work harder then a normal worker but hey we gotta prove the po needs us so we can one day make regular….

21. Get real Sucka! Their have been Transitional Employees (TE’s) who worked for 7-8 years(no annual/sick leave or any other benefits) and than only to be converted to CCA’s or PSE’s. The one’s I know only recently made Regular. Incidentally, I’am a former 3 year TE.

22. It seems all you so called “regulars ” and ex “regulars” have all the negativity towards the writer but I didn’t read in the comment not one of you went through the same the Ptf position is nothing like a pse you had annual leave plus sick leave a pse has a total of 2 hrs they accumulate every pay period and it has to be used for sick leave also so god forbid anyone become Ill Ptf also were not signed up for a two year term the PSE’s are forced to take a five day unpaid leave at the end of each year on the anniversary of their hire date and for you who just know how this pse is getting better pay than most jobs they are ONLY guaranteed 2 hours per day per their contract so if you don’t know the facts please have a seat you and your 30+ years or however long you been there evidentially you were comfortable with your pay and benefits to have been a part time flex for that long everyone expects to enter a job that they are doing exactly the same as everyone else to get treated the same ! That goes from pay to every aspect of the job the problem with the regulars is your messed up misconception of thinking PSE’s were hired to take you alls place evidentially there wouldn’t have been a need for PSE’s if you were doing such a fine job of moving the mail it’s funny how negative some of you are who has no clue of what this person is going through I applaud the writer for speaking up !! Regulars trade your income with a pse who’s only promised 2 hours to maybe 5 or 6 hours per day and see how cool you would be doing the same work you do now or more and let’s see how you like it…

23. Anybody ever hear of PSE 204B’s? I have seen it all now. They don’t even know how to run a machine and already supervising career employees. That was the straw that broke my back. Gone April 2014. No more stress or hassles!

24. I want to stay home and have my pay put directly into my bank account. Can somebody please arrange this?

25. If you don’t like the job quite. Same goes for you regular employees who have nothing good to say about the organization that pays your bills. There are many great Postal employees who are hard working but there is a growing number of you who don’t deserve the job. If everyone did the job they were hired to do, the organization wouldn’t need PSEs.
    The union is paid by the organization to protect those employees taking the smoke breaks and leaving the job to sit in their cars. The average American needs the Postal Service but it shouldn’t have to pay the wages of the union stewards. Change the contract and save millions.

26. PSE Steward:

    You have no clue rookie…take it from an ole CSR steward 40 year vet of the PO. Your union is as cut-throat and political as they come hence the reason for their impending downfall. One voice will not make a difference unless “they” allow it! As time goes on IF you’re still around you will see!

27. You’re not alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Get involved with your local union. One voice can make a difference.

28. I could run my own Post Office thats how much I know

29. Ive been a casual 1yr , TE 6yrs , and 2yrs CCA

30. PSE and a CCA are cheap hostage slaves for the Post Office . Mess up thing is that they do more than the regulars for less pay and no benefits . Sound’s like a American opportunity alright. And I’ve been one for almost 9yrs due to job killing

31. You must be unhappy with the great strides APWU has made on your behalf.

32. Ptf how much do u make now!

33. If your job is so bad, quit! I hear similar stories from PSE’s in our office. Do you think the USPS just used its regular workers to stack mail in the corners of post offices just waiting on you and your fellow PSE’s to come in and save the day? You are too typical of a PSE. You think you are WAY more important than you are. Just wait. Ten years from now YOU will be the employee the new PSE’s talk about, except YOU will be taking an illegal break and when the manager tries to discipline you for it, I guarantee YOU will be bad mouthing the new PSE’s! This is just the kind of person YOU are. Save everyone a lot of grief and quit now.

34. also will you be one of those slugs taking overtime when u become regular.I’m sure all your whining will end when u make regular huh We all went through it when we started only we didn’t bash our co workers Is that why you wont give name or facility

35. I’m sure when its your time to make regular you will except it and join us lazy slobs huh?Then everything you accuse us of doing will be allright then.Nice to open your mouth with only two years in.Theres people with more time on the toilet than you got there so suck it up

36. welcome to the world of the real.

37. i agree with said writer. Lets face it, the PO doesnt care about their employees. All they care about is saving hrs and moving the mail. I havent seen 1 intelligent decision in my 20 yrs on the job. and for all telling said writer that they put in so many yrs before they were made regular, all i have to say is that when you were ptf’s you got FULL benefits with vacation and sick time. Not the $13-$15 per hr and nothing else. You were still hired as a career employee. This business is going downhill fast b/c anyone who knew anything in this job has retired. Remember when we were considered a service to the people? Now, who cares about service? Its all about cost cutting. Management is trained to harass their workers. They run their offices on fear and intimidation. If you looked at a report that came out last yr it stated that management has gone up and the crafts have gone down over last 6 yrs. What does that tell you? I no longer am proud to say i work for the USPS. Its a shame what i see going on. Look at the unions. They are winning over 1 million dollars a yr on grievances and management still continues to violate the contract and lets free money go out the window. They do what they want and dont care about how much $$$ it costs them. But god for bid they catch you take an extra 10 min break. Then the write ups begin. If any educated person came in and looked at how this organization was run from the bottom up, they would laugh. Its a shame and i feel for all the PSE & CCA’s

38. You could always work at Walmart. I’m sure the pay, benefits, and working conditions are much better.
    These so called 30-40 missing regulars fought for what you have, and you want to throw them under the bus.
    Those 30-40 missing regulars are a result of downsizing. The plants are staffed for 5 day delivery. The PSE’s aren’t the only ones working multiple machines,everybody is.
    Instead of whining,blaming others,and taking handouts. Join the labor movement. Volunteer and vote for legislators that are pro worker. Get involved with your local,picket, anything that promotes a pro worker environment.
    Your destiny is in your hands, stop whining life isn’t fair.

39. Continuing my comment after it posted before it was submitted,since PSE’s can be dues paying members and go into the APWU health plan,that is the only thing Goofy and the APWU executive board at the time cared about,and the arbitrators imposed this in the other union contracts.The old way of starting as a casual or just waiting for your name to come up on the register for a career appointment was way better than the new system where career hirings will only come from the PSE’s.Blame this on Cliff Goofy for being a terrible negotiator and union president.

40. Poor baby… want some cheese with that whine?

41. It was that Donohoe stooge,former APWU president Cliff Goofy who came up with the PSE’s,(re-titled casuals)and allowed the percentage of non-career to go up from 6% to 20% in the current CBA only because

42. In my opinion, the creation of the pse employee was for a couple of reasons if not more. First and obviously,it was to underpay. But secondly the benefits issue is huge. The Postal Service doesn’t want anything to do with healthcare any longer. The unions have seen membership decline which include dues. So during negotiations they come to an agreement to which the new employee (pse) is paid about 35% less, doesn’t have health insurance FOR A YEAR. Then once employed for a year they are offered the union plan, which sucks.
    Who made out on this deal? Everyone except the employee ( new and old). Not to mention the retirement issue. As far as morale goes, it has never been a priority here at the PO. I understand how pse’s must feel, but there is another side to this also. The employee like myself who has 30 + years who is not quite ready to go. A lot of us see the pse’s treated as the choice employee in my office. They bang in sick they just change their N/s day. They are given weekends off. Mgmt manipulates their schedules to screw the regulars out of ot. I hope all pse ‘s are converted soon.

43. Tough situation to be in. If we didn’t have a union we would all be PSE’s.

44. From a full time worker,we know the problems but you will soon find out management is going to do it their way. Maintenance people have made improvements to equipment only to have it removed because management didn’t think of it first.Strings and rubber band still keep jamming up the APP’S, [delaying mail ,destroyed mail]] , management won’t move into the 21 Century and stop there use.
    You will find out that management has it’s pet’s and for the most part things will just not change in the work force ,only the newer equipment they keep replacing every year or two.

45. Pse’s were voted in by union members. You probably would be a casual if not for the vote. Then you wouldn’t have any benefits period. Sounds like you need to move along. You already sound disgruntled.

46. “My tour has literally 30 to 40 regular employees missing per day which results of course working the “PSE’s” on numerous machines throughout the shift to get the mail out. Meanwhile the regular employees are taking smoke breaks, chilling in the locker rooms or even leaving the building to hang out in there vehicles.” Where are the supervisors while this is going on? So you know of this malfeasance and you have not alerted the OIG? tsk tsk tsk

47. PSEs earn 50% more than casuals (and more than many americans). PSEs get annual leave, health benefits, night differential, and yearly pay increase. The job of a PSE may not be glamorous and it may seem like you will never be cconverted(anyone who was a PTF knows how they feel) but it is still better than most jobs out there.

    If all the PSEs in my facility, over 30, would call off, we would still get the mail done. We got it done before they were here and we’ll get it done after they are gone. Don’t make yourself more important than you really are.

    It worries me to see a person so cynical and critical of coworkers this early in their employment . These feelings of resentment towards the other careers will only strengthen when the PSEs are made career. What will THAT do to morale? This person make a lot of allegations against other workers, but do they know the whole story? Is the person in their car on lunch break?

48. There’s a lot here but, it’s also nothing new. In my day it was “PTF” and you stayed there for years. You’re right about the pay. It’s too low to attract quality people (no offense to you), but that’s the way it is today. UPS “PSE’s” get less and have to work harder.
    I must say shame on you if you don’t find a medical plan for you and your family! This is what ObamaCare is all about.
    My advise to you: Don’t worry about those around you with poor work ethics. Value yours and your integrity.
    On the other hand, if you don”t support your union….

49. Sorry but it took me 7 years to make full-time (regular). And you’re crying about having to be there for 2 years. You are making over $15 an hour, $16 if you’re working nights. That is well above any “part-time” job. Every business has broken policies and flawed structures but see if you could find something better at that pay for part time.

50. I am a recently converted PSE to a PTF position employee. It does happen. I’m just glad I got a job at a small post office. I wouldn’t take a job at a large post office even if it doubled my pay.

51. You said it, man!!!! Don´t show up to work for a few days. Go to the doctor and ask him for a note because you are stressed out and need some rest. Let see if the upper management will get the message!!!!

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